COSMOS | seongjoong

chapter 15.

"... that's it for my class today, everyone. a quick reminder that your final exam for this class is due on friday and those who did the best will be invited to perform theirs at the school festival in april. good luck," hongjoong's professor announced as she proceeded to exit the room. seonghwa's birthday is in april... that would be the perfect time for me to present the song to him! i just need to get the invite, he pondered to himself.

without horribly overworking himself, hongjoong had been fiercely constructing his song for his exam. he had finished every other one except the final for this class— he had so much more effort to include in it.

it was for seonghwa, after all.

he was so worried that the older would dislike the piece he composed and produced for him— maybe seonghwa would think i'm a horrible singer, and he would be so embarrassed...

"hey joong! what's on your mind, you seem distracted," wooyoung greeted the latter in a positive tone as he spotted him zoned out in the hall. wooyoung couldn't deny that he was starting to worry for the older again— but he and san decided against meddling in his current situation, assuming he was probably stressed like the rest of them. they also knew how much care seonghwa put into hongjoong, which lightened their concern rather quickly.

"yeah, i'm good, woo. i'm just worried about my exam for music production... i decided to dedicate it to seonghwa, but i don't know if he's gonna enjoy it..." hongjoong looked to his feet with a sigh.

wooyoung did not let him sit in his own misery.

"absolutely not hongjoong, i refuse to let you think this. come on, you know seonghwa better than anyone! he absolutely adores you— he loves you and everything you do so fucking much. he is going to love your song for him, okay? don't overthink like that, it's unhealthy, you know," hongjoong gave a nod before speaking up again, "okay okay woo, maybe you're right. my headspace has been so full and negative these last few weeks... i honestly don't know why i'm thinking like this again. i was doing so great..."

"nope. STOP SULKING!" wooyoung paused and hugged his best friend as tightly as he could. "not everyone deals with stress well. especially when they have depression to deal with on top of it— hongjoong... i admire you so much because of how much you try to stay positive and control everything. maybe you don't see it, but trust me, everyone around you knows you're doing absolutely amazing! now, what do you say... hang out with seonghwa, san, and me?"

hongjoong gave the younger a borderline mischievous grin before agreeing. it had been so long since he was able to hang out with those he loved— he felt bad that he has basically been neglecting them because of exams.

"wait— were you guys thinking of hanging out without me? that's so mean wooyo," hongjoong faked a pout, acting as if he was actually upset at this fact.

he didn't quite l the answer though. it only allowed him to drown in his guilt even more than he had already been doing.

"well, yeah we kind of did... we thought you'd be too busy to hang out. when i asked you, i thought you would say no," wooyoung took a pause, examining the older's face as he spoke. he saw how his smile dropped slightly, so he tried to bring the mood back up by moving on from the current topic.

"but of course we know you're dedicated to your work, joong. don't beat yourself up because of it, okay! we love you, and we weren't planning on leaving you out of anything— even if you had declined, we would've stopped by your dorm before you went to sleep. now let's go, san and hwa are waiting for us!"

the two short males skipped their way through the hallways of the arts building, eventually making it outside to where each of their lovers stood. they seemed to have broken a conversation in order to greet the two coming towards them— which would likely be brought up again sooner or later.

hongjoong's pov

i ran up to seonghwa with wooyoung trailing behind me and nearly forgot about san's presence as a whole.

i missed you so much, seonghwa.

okay, maybe i did see him a few hours ago, but today just felt different— i didn't want to be away from seonghwa for any more than a millisecond. it felt as if i did so, i would explode.

"hwaaa, hehe you're so warm," i said as i embraced him tightly.

there was something about him that was just so addicting— like i couldn't get enough. seonghwa felt safe; maybe that's what it was.

"awhh i missed you joong," he paused to give me a warm smile and a pat on my head, "how did class go today? they weren't too stressful were they?" i could see the concern in his eyes and his facial expression.

it's so nice to see that he genuinely cares for me.

"nope! my classes were really boring today... but that's a good thing," i spoke with a tiny giggle as i snuggled into the crook of his neck.

"okay that is DISGUSTING. get a room oh my god," san faked vomit noises as wooyoung just laughed.

"you say that as if we aren't the same way!" wooyoung gave a teasing slap to san's shoulder before wrapping his arms around the older's bicep. "anyways, did you guys hear about the party yeonjun was hosting tonight? san and i planned to go... you guys should too!"

i zoned out after the party was mentioned. it really wasn't something i was interested in, especially when i knew the people who typically attended yeonjun's parties in particular. yeonjun was seonghwa's friend though, so what if he agreed to go? i can't just ditch him... i hated going to parties. not only did i not fit in with them, but i would always get abandoned by wooyoung and san. i wasn't upset at them because of it, i understood it was probably boring to just stand near me— but it made me a target for the weird-ass frat boys there.

i was snapped out of my thoughts when i heard seonghwa's response to wooyoung. "ah, yeonjun is one of my besties, he did tell me about it! i'm up to go! what about you joong? it's no pressure if you don't want to, i'm perfectly fine with staying with you and doing something else!"

seonghwa seemed excited about attending the party though, i couldn't just ruin it for everyone.

i'm sure seonghwa would keep me safe.

with that thought i nodded my head, agreeing to go with the trio. they all smiled brightly, excited and content with my answer. i understand their reactions— i always said no to these offers, after all.

"do any of you know what you're going to wear? or should we go shopping..." san paused his sentence with a smirk.

suddenly they were all staring at me with the same expression plastered on their faces.

ugh. i know what this means.

"hongjoong, you dont have any... party material outfits do you?? we should go to the mall... and maybe help you out!"

i sighed, "fine. but san's buying me ice cream! otherwise, i'm not going."

"WHAT. why not seonghwa? you're only targeting me!" san said in an offended tone as if he was trying to defend himself.

"why would i make hwa pay for anything? he's an angel, and i love him, he doesn't need to spend any money," san playfully scoffed at how fast my demeanor changed.

"okay okay, whatever. let's go!"

and as if on cue, everyone sprinted towards wooyoung's car, and in a matter of minutes, we were on our way to the mall.

today is going to be a long day...

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HELLO!! sorry this update took a bit, but nonetheless, i hope u guys like it <33 it was kind of a filler chapter, so sorry about how it's a little rushed😕

— iya 🌼